A Tired Topic?

Readers of goforethegreen.blogspot.com know that I'm a fan of any attempt to conserve water, the reduction of pesticides and fertilizers. Although I'm interested in the concept of artificial turf from this prospective, I do have some concerns over leaching and exposure of possible toxins, read up on past Artificial Turf articles here.

Recently I came upon some studies conducted by Environment and Human Health Inc out of North Haven Connecticut USA. The EHHI are "dedicated to protecting human health from environmental harms through research, education and promotion of sound public policy". I've read through their report called Artificial Turf: Exposures to Recycled Tire Crumbs Used on Synthetic Turf Fields, Playgrounds and as Mulch, and it offers quite a bit of insight into the products.

Here's a summary of the report from EHHI:

• The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station study conclusively demonstrates that the tire crumbs and tire mulch release chemical compounds into the air and ground water. Thus, tire crumbs constitute a chemical exposure for humans and the environment.

• It is clear that the recycled rubber crumbs are not inert, nor is a high-temperature or severe solvent extraction needed to release metals, volatile organic compounds, or semi-volatile organic compounds. The release of airborne chemicals and dust is well established by the current information. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station research conclusively demonstrates that release can occur under ambient conditions experienced in the summer in Connecticut.

• Those published health assessments that indicate de minimis risk should not be applied to the synthetic turf paradigm and may not be appropriate for playgrounds with open layers of recycled tire crumbs.

• Health endpoints of concern are numerous, including acute irritation of the lungs, skin, and eyes, and chronic irritation of the lung, skin, and eyes. Knowledge is somewhat limited about the effects of semi-volatile chemicals on the kidney, endocrine system, nervous system, cardiovascular system, immune system, developmental effects and the potential to induce cancers.

• There are still data gaps that need to be filled in and additional studies are warranted.

• It is prudent to conclude that there will be human exposures to chemicals released during the use of synthetic turf fields.

• The excess amount of zinc in the rubber tire mulch makes it unacceptable to be used in gardens.

Obviously there are reasons for concern over the products mentioned in the report and I can't imagine they'll be around much longer with this kind of press. I am unaware of artificial turf that does not use the "recycled tire crumb" as a base, if you know of any please post a link in the comments section.

Here's a video of Dr David Smith from the EHHI talking about issues related to synthetic turf. Very informative!

GREEN GOLF on the GO

Every once in a while I get overwhelmed with the amount of potential posts, so instead of doing a bunch of individual posts I compile the links with a brief intro, Enjoy!

The Sports Business Journal has a few articles of note, you must sign up as a member to view.
Golf Without Turf - Artificial Surfaces
Golf Deals with a range of Environmental Issues

Interesting perspective! This article starts off by claiming: "For years, a golf course—or proximity to one—has been a prerequisite of the destination meeting. But as meeting planners increasingly seek to green their practices within the meetings and lodgings parameter, they are likely wondering about the green practices of the greens outside".
Read the rest of the article here.

More on the Trump fiasco.

I'll have to write an article on this topic soon, but for now here's just a peak at what is happening in Spain.
And while we're at it here's a bit more background on the concept of water trading.

Here's a bit on Ontario's water problems, from the article:
"Starting Jan. 1, 2009, industrial or commercial water users that fall within certain categories will be required to pay $3.71 for every million litres of water they take".
As of right now Golf Courses are not included within the defined "certain categories".

The above concerns could have something to do with this situation in Orangeville Ontario.


Toppoint has recently released the eCo RANGE golf Ball - "Toppoint Corporation Limited is the LEADER in golf balls manufacturing in Thailand for worldwide export." www.toppointgolf.com

Golf Courses contribute to conservation efforts, here and in some cases it's a little more complicated, like here.

A Tired Solution?

Laying old car tire crumbs underneath a golf green doesn't sound like a great idea, until you speak to University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers. They've been able to demonstrate how "ground-up tires placed beneath golf course greens absorb excess chemicals from fertilizers and help prevent groundwater contamination". Check out the article here.

But I am a little concerned about the rubber leaching, this study suggests there is reason to worry - "components of crumb rubber produced from tires, volatilize into the vapor phase and are leached into water in contact with the crumbs".

We'll see where this goes in the future, nevertheless I am intrigued by its potential recycling/re-use capacity and pollution prevention characteristics.

Artificial 18 Hole Green at Rancho del Lago in Pima County, Arizona

Creating senior communities is big bucks. Although golf courses are great attractions for most private communities, with seniors theres the issue of decreased mobility, especially in the hot Arizona sun. This is one of the reasons why the Four Seasons Rancho del Lago created a 18 hole putting course.
They claim that its Arizonas largest putting green at 37,000-square-feet, I guess its gotta be in order to hold 18 holes! Now when I think of putting greens in Arizona I think of water, but Rancho del Lago doesn't have to because its all synthetic. From the article:

"The turf we chose is American made and the same surface as the Dallas Cowboys Stadium. I figured if it was good enough for Jerry Jones, it would work well for us."

"This turf saves nearly one million gallons of water a year compared to what is required to maintain an acre of grass in the desert. We save an astronomical amount of water, gas and oil. Artificial turf actually drains better than real grass. Our products work well in Tucson and have built-in UV protection that holds up well in the sun."

In addition to the Four Seasons putting green, the Rancho del Lago master plan includes an 18-hole golf course, nine lakes and the del Lago Golf Club.

Why Urban Golf?

Why not I guess?
Urban golf does not require expensive fees, years of construction, building permits, complex irrigation systems, pest control or even lawn mowers. It does require balls that wont dent your buddy's Beemer, too bad this guy didn't think of that ahead of time.

Walker on the Green

An eco/art activist take on golf may be a little much for some, but I like it.




From Inhabitat
"Golf courses are notorious for water consumption, pesticide use, and unforgivable outfits. There is a modern movement to correct or minimize some of these wrongs - the Audubon Society names some 2,300 golf courses in its Cooperative Sanctuary Program, and many modern courses have integrated IPM and native plants. The vast majority, however, remain a green carpeted water suck. This aspect was not overlooked by artists participating in Walker on the Green. An artist-designed mini-golf course, this project takes eco to the greens at the Walker Art Center’s Minneapolis Sculpture Garden."

Is artificial turf still the lesser of the two evils?

Artificial Turf companies tell us that their product is an environmentally friendly one because there is no need for pesticides. Although true, what is the point of replacing a growing surface with a fake one if it too is potentially hazardous?

Taken from the Center for Disease Control and Preventions website (www.cdc.gov)

Recent tests by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) of artificial turf playing fields in that state have found these fields contain potentially unhealthy levels of lead dust. The initial tests were conducted on a limited number of playing fields. NJDHSS sampling of additional athletic fields and other related commercial products indicates that artificial turf made of nylon or nylon/polyethylene blend fibers contains levels of lead that pose a potential public health concern. Tests of artificial turf fields made with only polyethylene fibers showed that these fields contained very low levels of lead.

Information provided by NJDHSS to CDC and ATSDR indicates that some of the fields with elevated lead in either dust and/or turf fiber samples were weathered and visibly dusty. Fields that are old, that are used frequently, and that are exposed to the weather break down into dust as the turf fibers are worn or demonstrate progressive signs of weathering, including fibers that are abraded, faded or broken. These factors should be considered when evaluating the potential for harmful lead exposures from a given field.

The risk for harmful lead exposure is low from new fields with elevated lead levels in their turf fibers because the turf fibers are still intact and the lead is unlikely to be available for harmful exposures to occur. As the turf ages and weathers, lead is released in dust that could then be ingested or inhaled, and the risk for harmful exposure increases. If exposures do occur, CDC currently does not know how much lead the body will absorb; however, if enough lead is absorbed, it can cause neurological development symptoms (e.g. deficits in IQ). Additional tests are being performed by NJDHSS to help us better understand the absorption of lead from these products.